I teach because I have to. In all the jobs I've had to pay my way through life, only teaching has (as of today) not left an empty feeling. This is my calling; and sometimes I feel that I chose to teach as much as teaching chose me.
*Note: The thoughts expressed here are my own and not intended to represent the school or district I work for.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Best Education Blog

I'm a bit miffed at the recent vote for Best Education Blog, and not because my own blog wasn't listed. I'm baffled by how voters defined two of the three words--best and education. Michael Berube's blog has spent the last three weeks pleading for votes and rambling about stuff. Not that I matter much, but I hadn't even read his blog before the 2006 Award Nominees were announced.SpunkyHomeSchool, who landed in second place, is much more deserving as an education blog, but I am biased against home schooling because of the two home schooled kids I grew up next to. They really were odd. I feel that Spunky, though insightful, doesn't branch out enough to speak for the entirety of the education world.IvyGate is another blog whose content doesn't seem to fit the world of education. I mean, no offense to the Ivy League, but I don't care about the happenings of the Ivy League unless I happen to have a wager on their submission to the NCAA Tournament in March. Risking being left out of The Education Wonks Carnival of Education, I'll let you all know that my vote went to A Shrewdness of Apes. Ms. Cornelius keeps it focused on the world of education while infusing a bit of humanity into her blog. She is insightful and relevant to the Edusphere. Plus, the title of her blog is fantastic.I like Joanne Jacobs, but I consider her someone who writes about education from the perspective of what she is, a journalist. She does a great job of presenting the world of education to her readership, but again, her blog is about education not birthed from education.Eduwonk is another fine blog about education. He has the right connections and the right approach. But again, despite what is described as a brief history as a teacher, I still find a bit of a disconnect as he writes from what many consider to be "outside the trenches." In terms of academic study of faith, Faith and Theology seems to do a fine job, though I'd never read his blog either (though I may begin to!). But seeing as the ACLU doesn't like to even mention Faith in public education, I don't think I can support Faith and Theology as an education blog.The Education Policy Blog is yet another that just doesn't fit into my readership rotation. Too stuffy. Sure, edcuation policy is important for us to follow--it does affect us--but more often than not, I can hear about education policy by simply reading the blogs of those in the trenches.Over at History is Elementary, we finally get a better picture of reality. This is a fine site, and certainly worthy of being included in the Best Education Blog race.I am most surprised that The Education Wonks received so few votes. I mean, really, he is the founder of the now legendary Carnival of Eduaction--a place we all gather to and place that has increased my readership in the last two years.

Your analysis of the blogs nominated was interesting. You said about my blog (now retired) "I feel that Spunky, though insightful, doesn't branch out enough to speak for the entirety of the education world."

How could anyone presume to speak for the "entirety of the education world?" A writer would be a fool, arrogant, or possibly both to take on such an assignment.

But I understand your overall point. A lot of good education blogs were missed. (Edspresso is an excellent blog.) But that isn't the fault of Wizbang. They hold open nominations. Anyone including the blogger him/herself could have been added to the list. They may not have made it to the finals, but they would have been considered. Just a heads up for next year.

And like you Mr. McNamar, I think Edwonk is a wonderful source for information and said so in my post announcing my nomination for the awards; so I will cast my vote in these awards their way.

My vote: Education Wonks. I think they have a good eye for education news, which is one of the reasons that they're one of my must-read edublogs every morning. I like the $.02 they chip in now and again. And I think they deserve far more credit than they get for keeping the Carnival of Education alive.

At least three of those are on my Top 8 too. Internet popularity contests, I think, are just as weird as high school ones. How appropriate for those of us still in high school...or at least in it again.

My post is up regarding my thoughts on the whole thing. I linked to you and another post I saw that discussed the whole thing. I'm making a suggestion to those in power at the Weblog Awards that perhaps they should divide up the education category a bit....it's very broad.

Of all the many, many educator blogs that are being written I haven't found one yet that doesn't have something worthy to say. They are all award winners in my opinion.

We are all trying to teach to and inform the public regarding education in our own way and we need to keep doing it. We MUST let people know we are here, and from time to time this will mean participating in a popularity contest in order for people who aren't aware to find us.

I say, congrats to ALL of us that participate in this wonderful community!

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